Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 superinfection occurs despite relatively robust neutralizing antibody responses.

ABSTRACT: Superinfection by a second human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strain indicates that gaps in protective immunity occur during natural infection. To define the role of HIV-1-specific neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in this setting, we examined NAb responses in 6 women who became superinfected between approximately 1 to 5 years following initial infection compared to 18 women with similar risk factors who did not. Although superinfected individuals had less NAb breadth than matched controls at approximately 1 year postinfection, no significant differences in the breadth or potency of NAb responses were observed just prior to the second infection. In fact, four of the six subjects had relatively broad and potent NAb responses prior to infection by the second strain. To more specificall

SUBMITTER: Blish CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2593335 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature